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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Ju Jin-woo, on the enforcement of the Information and Communications Network Act: 'We will file a constitutional lawsuit against the 'people's gag law''

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A South Korean lawmaker plans to file a constitutional lawsuit against the revised Information and Communications Network Act, set to take effect July 7.
  • The lawmaker argues the law, which imposes punitive damages for distributing false information, violates constitutional principles like freedom of expression and prior censorship prohibition.
  • Concerns are raised that the law could lead to trade disputes with the US and over-regulate social media platforms.

South Korean lawmaker Ju Jin-woo of the People Power Party announced his intention to file a constitutional lawsuit against the revised Information and Communications Network Act, which is set to be implemented on July 7. Ju stated that the law, which introduces punitive damages of up to five times the actual damages for distributing "fake news," infringes upon citizens' rights.

The law will be implemented on July 7, and if it is, I will file a constitutional lawsuit as a citizen to contest the unconstitutionality of censorship on social media.

— Ju Jin-wooAnnouncing his plan to challenge the revised Information and Communications Network Act.

In a Facebook post titled "Online Gag Law is Unconstitutional and Dictatorial, I Will Directly File a Constitutional Lawsuit," Ju criticized the law as hastily drafted, lacking a proper body to judge "fake news." He argued that the law imposes excessive sanctions on social media community operators and could trigger trade disputes with the United States, which has already signaled potential financial and visa sanctions.

This law is a hasty draft that has not even established an organization to judge false and fictitious information.

— Ju Jin-wooCriticizing the process and content of the revised law.

Ju asserted that the revised act clearly violates constitutional provisions, including the prohibition of prior censorship, the principle of proportionality, and freedoms of speech, expression, thought, and conscience. He believes the law represents a form of dictatorship and is unconstitutional.

This bill, which imposes excessive sanctions on social media community operators, will cause trade disputes with the United States.

— Ju Jin-wooWarning about potential international repercussions of the law.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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